Minnesota Scouts to speak to Space Station astronauts

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other students are getting the chance to speak live to astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

The conversation takes place around midday Tuesday from the Northern Star Boy Scout Council's new Base Camp facility at Fort Snelling. It will feature a 20-minute question-and-answer session with astronauts Ron Garan Jr., Mike Fossum, and Satoshi Furukawa.

The astronauts will be shown live on Base Camp's 19-foot TV screen and throughout the 35,000 square foot facility, allowing hundreds of young people to participate. Many science and space-related activities will also take place there. In preparation, Scouts have been working on merit badges related to space exploration and other aerospace learning experiences.

The event will be carried live worldwide on NASA Television and streamed on its web site.